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LESSON — 13, , = 4.13 THE GOLD WATCH, bors! — Mulk Raj Anand, , , , 4.13.1 INTRODUCTION "19 . : it ", , “The Gold Watch” by Muklk Raj Anand represents Indian life when é ne ‘, part of the British Colony. The story deals with the pathetic state of an old;sler, who is forced to take a premature retirement by an obstina, least bothered of the clerk’s wellbeing., , 4.13.2 OBJECTIVES ", The story, “The Gold Watch” highlights the plight of Indians working for British, , Indian organisations, and aims at showing the injustice rendered to them,-by the, , cruel white rulers. ay, , 4.13.3 CONTENTS, , Mulk Raj Anand's "The Gold Watch" deals with the feelings of a fifty-year-old, despatch clerk who has been prematurely retired from service. The story gives usa, clear picture of the poverty stricken Indian clerk working in a British firm and the, relentless stubborn white Sahib who was least bothered about the poor man's, plight., , Mr. Acton, the general manager of Henry King and Co, went to Sudershari, Sharma's table and told Mr. Sharma that he had brought a special gift for him from, London and he must come into his office after two days and receive it. Sharma was, bewildered and was unable to understand the intention of Mr. Acton. When Acton, smiled at Sharma, it was an inexplicable mystery to him. He wanted to find out the, hidden meaning of his smile. He did not know why he was singled out from, amongst twenty five members of the distribution department. He had completed, twenty five years of service in the company. Though reprimanded for occasional, lapses, he was an honest and upright despatch clerk. The retirement age of all, employees, as per the rules of the company, was fifty five and Sharma, who was, , fifty years of age hoped that he could serve for another five years in the company, and settle down at Jullender after retirement., , te white man who is, t tes), , a2,4, GA, , Miss Violet Dixon, the Anglo Indian typist, was very anxious to know what the, general manager had told Mr. Sharma. Sharma had to wait for two days to find out, what the G.M. -had brought for him from London. Waiting for two days would be a, psychological torture for Sharma. To relieve his pent up curiosity he rushed out of, the building to meet Mr. Acton who was in his car at that time. The general, manager did not brush him aside but smiled a broader smile than before. He told, Sharma that he had brought him a goldwatch with an inscription on it. Mr. Acton's, anticipation of his question threw Sharma further off his balance He stood, transfixed with bewilderment. In a flash he understood the fact The eneral, manager wanted him to retire from service. The very thou F, , i ght of, retirement crushed his hopes and he was too weak to witietend Rabies: >, , a mmaemmmameaemaeamaaaaaaaaaaasasaacaaacacacacaaaacscscccessssssa, , , , , , Scanned by TapScanner

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When he reached h ;, and pretended to be aes tried his best to conceal his panic and confusion, , iia n Saturday night h ith his wif, see Ram's Ci y e went with his wife and son to, neue: However he site very little and seemed lost in thoughts for a few, , mom es iT)ie:, , her cabana: ae “i cm put shrewd wife found out that something was wrong with, , that KE @as. Bhan to pretend that nothing unusual had happened. He told her, , brought f ss “ring on the special gift ie., a gold watch that the G.M. had, or Aim. Immediately his young son Hari cried aloud that he must hand, , sae nis Silver watch to him. Sharma assured him that he would give him his silver, CAA 4, , Trembling with trepidation Sharma went to meet the general manager at the, appointed hour in his office. As a token of appreciation for his loyalty to Henry King, and Co., Mr. Acton presented him with a gold watch. Mr. Sharma remained, speechless and he could not even say "Thank You Sir". Sharma dropped the watch, while holding it aloft. Mr. Acton picked up the watch, wound it and found it ticking., As a beggar receiving alms Mr. Sharma received the watch. As he came out of, Acton's office, tears flowed down his cheek. On his way home Sharma found that, the gold watch worked only when it was shaken. He did not want to spend money, on mending the watch. He wanted to save money for the sake of his family., , Sharma was not courageous enough to tell Mr. Acton that it was unfair on his, part to give him premature retirement without any reason., , 4.13.4 REVISION POINTS, , t: Mr. Acton, the General manager goes to Sudershan Sharma and tells him of, a gift that he has brought from London, which has to be collected after two, , days., 2: Sudarshan Sharma feared the worse and got worried over his future., , 3 The same evening when action was about to get into his car, he stops him to, clarify. Action tells him that he has brought him a gold watch from London., , 4 Sharma understands that it is a gesture for a premature retirement, while, , he still had five years of service., 5 Sharma is worried over his financial position. He bries his level best to hide, , : , abs “id, , i c from his wife and chil, , 7 7 parent day he is presented the gold watch and asked to retire., : n, , ‘nted Sharma drops the watch accidentally which malfunctions., i ol, pop leaves the office speechless and heat-broken., , 4.13.5 INTEXT QUESTIONS, 1. Who is Mr. Acton, 2. How did Sharma react |, 3. Why was Sharma s° worrle, , B, , and what did he tell to Sharma?, to Mr. Acton’s gesture of gifting him?, d of his future?, , , , Scanned by TapScanner

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198, , 4.13.6 SUM , oe, MARY .» cople were exploited during, , This story deals with the unruly manner in which p Co. decides to sack, colonial rule, Mr. Acton, the general manager of Henry _ a till had five more, Sharma, a fifty year old, honest and dedicated clerk, wshile he 8 sacri wesneleaitfia, years of service. Acton presents him a gold watch and sends him e, , of the financial condition of Sharma. i iw, , 4.13.7 TERMINAL EXERCISES 3022-02, 1. Was Sharma financially stable enough to retire? Why do you say S$ nine, 2. How did Sharma’s family act to the situation? BO Z, 3. What happened to the gold watch when Sharma received it? te, , 4.13.8 SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS 5 4, , ® None | ., , 4.13.8 ASSIGNMENTS, Write a note on how unruly the Britishers were to their employees. adi, Discuss briefly the problems an employee will face following a premature, , retirement., 4.13.10 SUGGESTED READING / REFERENCE BOOKS, 1. Read “Stories from the East and West” ed.by Dr. R Ganapathy, Emerald, Publishers, Madras., , 4.13.11 LEARNING ACTIVITIES, i. Reas’ a few more short stories representing the colonial rule of India and, , find out what common qualities they share., , 4.13.12 KEYWORDS, ® Prematured - Occurring before a state of readiness is reached, , tI ee, , ® Bewildered - Confused, , ® Inexplicable - Impossible to explain, , 9 Reprimand_ -A severe formal or official rebuke, , ® Pent-up - Emotions or expressions not expressed, , ® Inscription - Text carved on a wall such as memorial or gravestone, 0 Meagre - Little or lean, , ® Conceal - To hide something from view, , ® Pretend . - To claim falsely as a form of deliberate deception, , ® Shrewd - Showing clever resourcefulness in practical mtters, , ® Tremble - To shake, quiver, or vibrate, , Scanned by TapScanner